Apparatus for determining the liquid level in a container



E. HANSON April 3, 1951 APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE LIQUID LEVEL IN ACONTAINER Filed April 16, 1945 I 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ED WA PDHANSON.

E. HANSON April 3, 1951 APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE LIQUID LEVEL IN ACONTAINER Filed April 16, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lull I l l I I I I I l Ii I l 1| I I I I I I I:

is 5 WW I E. HANSON 2,547,002

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 3, 1951 I APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE LIQUIDLEVEL IN A CONTAINER Filed April 16, 1945 Patented Apr. 3, 1951 UNITEDSTATES PATENT GFFECE APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE LIQUID LEVEL- IN ACONTAINER Edward Hanson, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor of,one-

tenth to George B. Pitts, Cleveland Heights,

Ohio

6 Claims.

shown that many containers when delivered to the dispenser are onlypartially filled, so that the latter pays for a quantity of the beveragebased on the full capacity of the container when it is less thancompletely full and suffers a loss in dispensing the beverage from thecontainer.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved dispensingequipment capableof dispensing liquid from a container and rechargingthe liquid with gas when necessary. Another object of the invention isto provide an improved equipment having a gage for determining the levelof a carbonated liquid in a container and having provision foreliminating any foam in the gage when the level of liquid is to bedetermined.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method fordetermining the quantity of liquid in a container.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method ofdetermining the level of the liquid in a container when first filledand/or after portions of the liquid have been removed or dispensedtherefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved equipment formeasuring the distance between the inner opposed walls of a container.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved equipment ofthis character of simple construction and capable of being readilyassembled in relation to a container.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart to which my invention relates from the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein I Fig. 1 is aview, partly in el vation and partly in section, of a container and acombined dispensing and level determining equipment embodying myinvention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section of parts shown in Fig. 1, enlarged.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary views of parts shown in Fig. 1, enlarged.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 63 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of parts shown in Fig. 1, enlarged.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of parts shown in Fig. 1, enlarged,

Fig. 10 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showingthe equipment assembled in a container and arranged to measure theinterior distance between the top and bottom walls of the container.

Fig. 11 is a view, partly in section, of the equipment shown in Fig. 10.

Figs. 12 13 are sections on the lines 92-52 and l3-i 3, respectively, ofFig. 11.

In. the drawings, 5 indicates a suitable container shown as consistingof a typical bilge barrel; but my equipment is readily applicable toother types of containers, as will be apparent. Containers for beer andale, in most instances, are provided in one wall with a bung la havingon its outer end bayonet-joint elements lb and the opening through thebung, after the barrel 1 is filled, is closed by a cork (not shown).

2 indicates as an entirety a mechanism for dispensing or dischargingliquid from the container for re-charging the liquid with gas whennecessary and for determining at any time the level of the liquidtherein, this mechanism consisting of the following: 3 indicates adischarge pipe for the liquid adapted to be inserted through the openingin the bung la and engaged with the bottom of the barrel as shown inFig. 1, this operation serving to push the cork into the barrel. Theinner end of the pipe 3 is formed with one or more inlet openings 3a..The outer end of the pipe 3 is connected to a valved outlet member 327,which is connected to a pipe 317' terminating in a faucet (not shown), aportion of which pipe may consist of a coil adapted to be submerged in acooling medium. 4 indicates as an entirety a fixture through which thetube 3 extends, sealingly mounted on the bung la and arranged tosealingly engage the tube 3 whereby the tube is held in position in thecontainer I and may be utilized to support other'parts of themechanism,.as later set forth. The fixture 4 consists of an outer hollowmember 5 and an inner hollow member 6 the inner wall of which isenlarged to form with the tube 3 a chamber I. At one side the chamher iis connected to a nipple 8 having a check valve therein (not shown). Thenipple 8 extends laterally through an opening 5a formed in the side wallof the outer member 5. The nipple 8 is adapted to be connected with apipe .on ,theinner wall of the fitting [3.

at its lower end engages a suitable gasket 9 which is positioned on theouter end of the bung la. The upper end of the inner member 6 is shapedto accommodate a suitable gland I0, which is compressed by a collar Hhaving screw threaded engagement with the inner wall of the I- innermember 6. The lower end of the outer member 5 is provided withbayonet-joint elements arranged to engage the elements on the bung la,whereby the member 5 is rigidly connected thereto. The upper end of themember 5 is externally threaded to receive a nut i-Z, the nut [2 havingon its outer end an inwardly extending flange [2a which engages theupper end of the inner member 6, so that when the nut I2 is tightenedthe members 5, 6, are rigidly connected in assembledrelation and theinner member 6 is forced into sealing engagement with the gasket 9. l3indicates a fitting into which the upper end of the discharge pipe 3extends. By preference the pipe 3 extends through the fitting l3 and itsupper end is seated in the wall of the outlet member 3b, which ispreferably welded to the outer end of the fitting 13. The fitting I3 isconnected (preferably integrally) to an arm [4, the outer end of whichis connected (preferably integrally) to a fitting E5, the latter in turnsupportin a gage indicated as an entirety at IS. The fitting I3 isprovided interally intermediate its ends with an annular wall l3a whichco-operates with the pipe 3 and outlet pipe 3 by outlet openings 3c andthe outer recess being connected with a pipe 51, which extends throughthe wall of the fitting l3, for a purpose later set forth. The recesses'36 and pipe .3 are sealed by a gland Ha which is compressed by a nutIlb engaging thescrew threads a tube within and fixed to the inner wallof the pipe 3, the tubebe'i'ng of small size so as not to unduly afiectthe capacity of the pipe 3 and closed at its upper and lower ends. Thetube it is connected with the chamber 1 by alined ports 19 'formedin itswall and'the 'wall of the pipe '3 to receive the medium supplied underpressureto the chamber 11 and connected with the chamber 53b by alincdports 20 formed in its wall and the wall of the tube 3 to supply thegaseous medium to the chamber I311. By preference the tube I 3 extendsdownwardly below the chamber 'l-to apoint remote from the lower end ofthe pipe '3, that portion of the tube l8 which is Within the'conta'inerI being connected with the latter by spaced a-lined ports 2! (which arepreferably larger in size than that of the ports {9) formed in its walland the wall of the pipe 3.

The gage l6 consists of a tubular member 4 6a It indicates till formedof rigid material, such as metal, and a tube l6b within and extendingthrough the tubular member 5a, the tube 161) being formed of transparentmaterial for a purpose later apparent. The tube lfia is formed with anelongated slot 15a to expose the tube ifih and provided along one edgeof the slot lfia .(preferably on a plate lBx) with designatedgraduations Him, whereby the liquid level in the container I may bedetermined in inches or other scale. The upper end of the tubular member"3a, is welded to the lower end of the fitting I5, whereas its lower endis welded to the upper end of a fitting 22, this arrangement serving torigidly connect the fittings together. The opposite ends of the tube Iebextend into the fittings I5, 22, and are sealed with respect to theinner walls thereof by glands 23, 23, which are compressed by externallythreaded nuts 23a, 23a, engaging the threads on the inner walls of thesefittings, the glands serving to maintain the tube [5b in position. Theupper end of the fitting I5 is closed by a screw threaded plug I5a. andforms with the adjacent nut 23a a chamber I51), which is connected by apipe 24 with the chamber 131). The lower end of the fitting 22 is closedby a screw'threaded plug 22a and forms with the adjacent nut 230, achamber 22?), to which the outer end of the pipe I! is connected. Thepipes I! and 24 are provided with suitable cut offs ll, 24',respectively, which are closed when the pipe '3 is introduced into thecontainer I. In dispensing the liquid from the container I, the pressureis maintained on the liquidtherein, due to the supply of the gaseousmedium to the chamber 1, which supply is uniformly regulated in a wellknown manner to force the liquid through the pipe 3, and the valve inthe member 3b is opened, so that when the dispensing faucet is opened tofill a stein, mug or other receptacle the latter is filled. The supplyof the gaseous medium not only serves to effect discharge of the liquidfrom the container l, but when such medium is carbonic gas, it replacesany gas which has escaped from the liquid incident to dispensingthereof.

25 indicates a'relief valve provided for the-tube ltb and chamber l5b,whereby any foam produced when the liquid isdisplaced into the tube lebmay be discharged therefrom and the chamber l5b. The valve 25 consistsof an externally threaded boss 25a provided on the outer end of the plugI5a and an internally threaded cap 251) removably mounted on the boss25a. As shown, the plug l5a and boss 250, are formed with a throughopening 26 and the side wall of the cap 251) is formed with a pluralityof escape ports 26a, so that when the cap 252) is backed up,"the foammay be discharged through the ports 260., as later set forth. Thisdischarge operation is efiected by closing the valve '24,whilemaintaining the valve ll open to force the liquid in the tubeupwardly and filling it and the chamber I51) and forcing the foam outthrough the escape ports 26a. By closing the relief valve cap 25b andopening the valve 24' the pressure in the container I and tube lBb willbe equalized and thus restore the level of the liquid therein. The cap2% is tightened against a gasket 21 to seal the opening 26.

When the level of the liquid in the container l is to be determined, thevalve in the pipe 3b being closed and the cut-off 24 also closed withthe cut-off I1 open, the liquid in the container I is forced through thepipe 3, recesses 13c, ,pipe l1 and into the lower :end of the tube lfib..As the '28 to close the uppermost ports is.

first part of the carbonated liquid is forced through these passages itis formed into slugs of foam due to the release of pressure in thepassages. To eliminate this foam the relief cap 2% is backed up topermit escape of the foam and air originally present in the tubes ll andNb. This bleeding operation takes only an instant and as soon as clearliquid fills the reading tube 1617 the relief cap 2% is closed, and thecut-01f 24' is now opened to admit the gas or air under the pressureexisting on top of the liquid in the container I, thus, equalizing thepressure on top of the liquid in tube IBb with the pressure on theliquid in the container i.

now show the exact height of the liquid in the container I. The pressurethrough the pipe 3 and the remainder of the dispensing system naturallydrops during the opening of the faucet while filling a glass and thepressure in the gauge l 51) tube will also fall to a certain extent,varying according to the friction in the tube and passage occupied bythe liquid between the pipe 3b and the tube I 6b.

The closing of the dispensing faucet restores the balance between theliquid in the container I and the gauge tube lfib thus providing areliable means of determining the exact level of the liquid in thecontainer 1. The tube l? and the bore of the tube lfib are relativelysmall so that the displaced liquid will not materially aifect theresulting level of the liquid in the container l. The ports 2| permitthe gaseous medium to flow from the container i into the tube it toinsure an equalized pressure in the system when the level of the liquidis to be determined. The ports 2! are preferably larger in size thanthat of the ports l9 so that a larger quantity of the gas in thecontainer may flow through the tube 58 than that supplied to the latterfrom the chamber 1. This gas supply takes place when a portion of theliquid in the container has been dispensed The height of the um f q d ithe t a sp n tu I6 w l the distance between the heads of which is 'to beand is particularly advantageous when the pressure medium is air, sothat the gas (which is heavier than air and rests on the liquid in thecontainer) or gas and air, with a larger proportion of the gas ascompared to that of the air, flows through the tube l8.

The pipe 3 is of a length to permit it to be applied to containers ofdifferent sizes. For this purpose, the pipe 3 and tube 53 are formedwith a plurality of alined ports iii, in spaced relation therealong, thelower ports E9 providing for the assembly of the fixture l for a smallsize container l, as shown. In this illustrated assembly, the upperalined ports it? are closed by devices indicated as an entiret at 28,281;, respectively, as shown. in Fig. 1. Each device 23, 23a, consistsof a flexible collar 29 (preferably formed of rubber) slidably fittingthe pipe 3 and mounted in an annular flanged casing 33. One side of thecasing 30 is expanded, as shown at a, to house a nut 35, to receive ascrew 82, preferably of the wing type. The inner end of the screw 3!engages a pressure plate 32a to press the colla against the pipe 3 andclose the adjacent ports 25, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. When themechanism is to be applied to the next size container i, the device 28is loosened and slid upwardly and clamped to the pipe 3 by operation ofthe screw 32 and the device 28a is moved up and replaces the deviceThen, upon releasing the gland Hi, the pipe 3 may he slid endwisethrough the fixture ll to relate the intermediate ports'is with thechamber 1. 'When a still larger container 1 is employed the device 28ais loosened and slid upwardly and clamped to the pipe 3 and the pipe 3is adjusted to relatethe uppermost ports E9 to the chamber 1.

While I have shown the combined dispensing and level determiningmechanism mounted in one head of the container it may be mounted on thecontainer in which the bung 5a is positionedin the side wall thereof.

32 indicates as an entirety a device for measuring the distance betweenthe wall of the container in which the bung is mounted andthe op- Vposed wall thereof. As the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 is mounted in thehead of the container i,

measured the device 32 is also shown projecting through the head of thecontainer I. The device t2 consists of the following:

7 33 indicates a rod formed of suitable material (such as glass, whichis inert to most acids and other substances) and provided along one sidewith designated graduations 33a. 34 indicates a sleeve slidably fittingthe rod 33. The upper end of the sleeve 35 may serve as an index elementor market, when the sleeve is in operating position, but is preferablyprovided with a window 34a. In this arrangement the upper end wall ofthe windcw may serve as the index element 34a to be related to thegraduations 33a and the window enables the user to see the graduationsbelow as well as above the index element Ma. At its lower end, thesleeve 34 is provided with a member 35, which is pivoted on a pin 35supported by the sleeve to swing on an axis disposed at right angles tothe axis of the rod 33. The member 35 consists of a long arm 35a and aninwardly extending" short arm 3%. As the long arm' 35a serves as aWeight, it serves to normally maintain the arm 3% in the path ofmovement of the rod 33, so that when the rod is projected endwisethrough the sleeve 3 the member 35 is swung about the pin 35' as shownin dottedlines in Fig. 11. It will be observed that the pin 35' isrelated to the upper end wall 351) of the short arm 35b and side of therod 33, so that when the rod 33 is projected throughthe sleeve 36 andengaged with the lower head lrc of the container I, the rod 33 may ridethe wall 35b and maintain the arm 35a raised, preferably at right anglesto the rod. The mounting for the pin 35 preferably consists of aninternally screw threaded collar 36, engaging external threads on thelower end portion of the sleeve 34 and formed at one side with aradially disposed slot 33a, spanned by the pin 35' and in which themember 35 swings. 3'! indicates an annular device slidably fitting thesleeve 34 and arranged to be seated in the bung la and serve as a, guideand support for the sleeve 34, when a measurement is to be made and thesleeve in turn may serve as a guide and support for the rod 33. Theannular device 3'! being slidable on the sleeve 34 between an annularshoulder provided thereon below the window 3 3a and the collar 3%,permits the sleeve as to be positioned with respect to a container Wallwherein the distance between the inner surface thereof and the outer endof the bung la, with which the flange on the annular device engages,varies.

In assembling the measuring device32 in the container 1, the bushing 31is first seated in the bung la with the member 35 projected in thecontainer'while holding the rod '33 upwardly with its lower end abovethe lower end of the sleeve 35. The rod 33 and sleeve 3% are thenprojected inwardly, the sleeve 34 being moved by one hand i of the, userand the 11 d 33 bein moved by i dine-rinsed, "the eYTmovemwfis be tinneduntil t jejupper "end of th" am 3512 clears the inher erid of the bungla; at this estle; (which corresponds to the inner surface of thecontainer), the sleeve 3!} is held stationary while move: t of theme asis continued until it engages the er'n'o te' Wall of the con'tainentheinitial mo r'n'eht" or the rod' following the end of move of the sleeve31%, serving to swing the men b into engagement Withthe inner surfacethe container as'shown in Fig. 1 0.' "The graduatlo'ns 33a on the rod33am so arranged'that when the parts are in the position'show'n' ininjur graduation related to the index element 36a" "will indicate thedistance in inches (or other scale corresponding to that of the scale[6513) between the bottom and t'op heads of the container I.

""It will be observed that the gage It? has a fiiged relation to thedischarge pipe 3 and that the zero end of the 'graduati'ons lent on thegage i5 is alinedwith the lowerendof the pipe 3 so that the level of theliquid in the container I can be dke gr g v t t In carrying out myprocess I proceed as followsz' first the mechanism '2 is assembled asshown in Fig. l 'and the level of the liquid in the container ldetermined in themanner' already set forth and noted, for example, atgraduation M on the scale Him. Next, the distance between the innersurfaces of the container heads is nieasuredi In this step, which iscarried out following the complete dispensing of the liquid therein, themechanism (2 is removed from the eorita'inerl and themeasuring device32" sub "sftit'utd'therefor and then the ihter'ior'din'iei'isionis madeand oompared with the level pre i ously indicated at graduation H. Next,the'cozitainer'l is' oompletely filled with a suitable liquid', suchaswater, the mechanism Ire-assembled as shown 'in' Fig. 1, and thepressure inedium applied to the liquid to force from the containerdn'toa receptacle (not shown) thauv'olu'nieof the water necessary to lowerthe level thereof in the container to that previously detrmihed at level1 4. The'water in the receptacle (an then be measured in a standardmeasuring vessel and thus determine" the volume of liquid lfssfthah thecapacity ofth e container T'as originally delivered.

t wil l be noted that the mechanism and measuring device and process setforth enables the user to determine the shortage iii a' o ontainerirrespective of the volumetric capacity thereof; also "by filling thecontainer and then diseharging it into a'rneasuring vesselhe determinegammy the volumetric quantity but the shortage Itoften' happens that theearbonated liquid dispensed from the contain'eifil, due to e 'pe oi'",the' carbonic gas or otherwise, has what is kno'w'i'i as a"flat"taste andobviously th 5 gm. dition is not conducive .to' maint"ning the 'disperi's'erfs gbodrivill." The meoha 12 provides .i'or thesume-mg of the liquid'beforfi it is dis- .pens dto the ,customer; This.re-fcharging Ql eration is accomplished by maihtainiiig the'eut offs orvalves ll, 24, openrsohthat the. gasfmayfiovv through the pipe lllfpigieI 2,.tu ble ifibf ahd inix with the liquid in the latter; the gas and dis t o ed h u f't e ipe J1 and e lee into the ,pipe 3 for rhikture withthe quid being supplied to thedispensing faueet; this ope at on bei os se -.the r ssu ed th "oh'arge" pipe extending th i u e n he d harsriee dr th es; wh n th is ensm ucet jenen 1s. e e i tf'effl e] e dju t 9 $5 1-ate he sim y bf a to h l qu e es {during each operation of thedispensihg faucet. 'lt l be'observedthat 'the valve 'in' the out; letrnnio r 3 b"ma y"be o'mi d or litfo ndu'rf t 'e o ration ofdetrinin'ingtheliquid level, 16%: the dispensirig fauc etus' losledthis'opei ationf killed in the art to which my inventhe disolosurfes andthe'desoription herein a e pu y illustrative and are "not intended to beh anti sense lirniting What Ijclai'm is:

1 .'In a combined disperi sng and liquid gage mechanism, the "coinbinaii of afixturg'adis H ugh said fiikt ure and H X dinto a ontaine1,'avalved let member oh the outer end of said pipe, 9 0 1 up l in a a e umedium wi er P U cugh'sa'id fixture into the container fer apt h xiid'here nl whe e y t b di ha ib 3 'bi el f 1min and e'xtehdihglongitudinally said ii i a d' 'em g tedt sa d a eqtls memes; up;- piy' win said'i'ixture, a fitt iixed to said pipe above'gsat d fixtureandforin ngwitn t e pipe '5 mu ia led e t i' rm d .1 sai W and wl'iereoythe gas flows from said tube ted H {ien er oh'theouter e"d'o'f saidpipe, rne us for supplying a 'gaseou' ium uhde pres through said fixture'i to" "the e'ontainer for applyingpressure to the liquid therein,whereby the iiquiu may be discharged through said pipe, a tube withinand extending longitudinally of said pipe and connected to saidgaseousmediumsupply within said fixture, a fitting fixed to saidpip'eabove said fixture and forming with'thepipei'a ehai ber, alined portsformed in said tubean'd pipe, whereby the gas flowsjfro'm said tube intosaid chamber, a liquid gage, valve controlled connections "for theliquid between said pipe and the lowerend of said gage, a'hollow fittinginto which the'upper end of said gage extendsfa closure for said hollowfitting, and a valve controlled cehneetion between said chamber andsaid'hollowifitting. L l. A mechanism as claimed in claim 3 Wherein saidclosure is provided with a valve controlled opening topermit dischargeof foam in s'aid'gage and hollow'fitting. 5. a cohibined dispensing andliquid gage n1echahi's1n'fthe' combination of 'a' fixtura'a dischargepipe ehdwise adjustably extending through said fixture and adapted toextend into a jcontai ner, ah outlet member on the outer end of said.pipaineans for supplying a gaseousrne- ,d iurh under pressure throughsaidfixture into wex w a' ofit ine fa Y the container for applyingpressure to the liquid therein, whereby the liquid may be dischargedthrough said pipe, a tube within and extending longitudinally of saidpipe, said tube and said pipe being formed with lower alined portsthrough which the gas is supplied to said tube from said fixture whenthe pipe is adjusted for one size of container and with upper alinedports through which the gas is supplied from said fixture to said tubewhen the pipe is adjusted for a larger size of container, a fittingfixed to said pipe above said fixture and forming with the pipe achamber, alined openings formed in said tube and said pipe, whereby thegas flows from said tube into said chamber, a liquid gage, valvecontrolled connections for the liquid between said pipe and the lowerend of said gage, and valve controlled connections between said chamberand the upper end of said gage.

6. In a combined liquid dispensing and gage mechanism, the combinationof a fixture, a discharge pipe extending through said fixture andadapted to extend into a container, a valve controlled outlet member onthe outer end of said pipe, means for supplying a gaseous medium underpressure through said fixture into the container for applying pressureto the liquid therein, whereby the liquid may be discharged through saidpipe, a tube within and extending longitudinally of said pipe andconnected to said gaseous medium supply within said fixture, a fittingfixed 10 to said pipe above said fixture and forming with the latter achamber, an outlet connection for the gaseous medium from said tubethrough the wall of said pipe into said chamber, a liquid gage, valvedcontrolled connections for the liquid between said pipe and the lowerend of said gage, a hollow fitting into which the upper end of said gageextends, a valve controlled connection between said chamber and saidhollow fitting, and a relief valve for the escape of foam mounted onsaid hollow fitting.

EDWARD HANSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 490,860 Snoeck Jan. 31, 1893679,201 Allison July 23, 1901 750,449 Gillard Jan. 26, 1904 1,065,233Gittinger June 17, 1913 1,248,340 Kinney Nov. 27, 1917 1,991,264 Thomaset a1 Feb. 12, 1935 2,083,281 Spayd June 8, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 370,962 France Jan. 8, 1907

